Amateur of Life and Death

Send us a textThis episode features an interview with performer Mark Horne about his life and loves in amateur theatre, including his early days as a ‘Crescenteenie' and his membership of the Crescent Youth Theatre.Mark also tells us about his role in the Crescent Theatre's forthcoming production of [title of show], Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen's witty love-letter to musical theatre and the creative process.

Send us a textThis month we welcome actor and director Steph Urquhart onto the podcast to share her life and loves in amateur theatre. Steph is also directing the Crescent Theatre's forthcoming production of Nora: A Doll's House by contemporary playwright Stef Smith, a powerful reimagining of Ibsen's classic play. Steph tells us more about the challenges and rewards of staging this exciting take on A Doll's House, set simultaneously in three different time periods.Meanwhile Luke, who is appearing in Nora: A Doll's House himself, has been backstage with two of his fellow cast members to find out how they are tackling playing their roles in scenes set in 1918, 1968 and 2018.

Send us a textThis month's episode explores James Graham's award-winning play Labour Of Love and we find out how the Crescent Theatre Birmingham's upcoming production of the show has been a real 'labour of love' in more ways than one...Our Studio Guest is actor Katie Merriman. Katie spills the beans on her life and loves in amateur theatre and talks about her role as straight-talking Labour constituency agent Jean Whittaker in Labour of Love.We also go behind the scenes of the production to find out more about the use of video in theatre and how video footage plays a crucial role in the show. Director and producer Rod Natkiel shares his experience and thoughts on creating and using video in theatre.

Send us a textThe Crescent Theatre's podcast, Amateur of Life and Death, is back for a fourth season.In this episode Luke and Liz talk to actors Jason Adam and Helena Lima about their life and loves in amateur theatre, and about their roles in the Crescent Theatre's forthcoming production of The Effect by Lucy Prebble. In the play, Jason and Helena play Tristan and Connie, two volunteers in a clinical trial who experience love as an unexpected side effect of the new anti-depressant being tested on them.

Send us a Text Message.This month's episode focuses on Red Velvet, the 2012 play by Lolita Chakrabarti.Laura has been speaking to actor Papa Anoh Yentumi about his role as the young Ira Aldridge in the upcoming Crescent Theatre Company production of the play.We also learn more about the play and the actor who inspired it, the American Ira Aldridge, who was the first black actor in England to play Othello on the professional stage.

Send us a Text Message.Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre, and features an amateur theatre-maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage. In this month's episode, our Backstage Pass holder, John O'Neill, speaks with director Dewi Johnson, who's recently been working in London's West End theatres including as Associate Director on Simon Nye's ‘The Crown Jewels' at the Garrick Theatre, starring Al Murray and Mel Giedroyc, and as Assistant Director on Ben Elton's stage production of ‘Upstart Crow', starring David Mitchell. You'll find Dewi's resumé contains its fair share of comedy!Dewi's journey from teenage director, to Drama School student, to West End associate director, took him through the Crescent Theatre (Birmingham), along the way. Here, Dewi's also had amateur experience over the last 11 years including as an actor, costume designer, set designer, and of course director, most recently directing the Crescent's dazzling 2019 production of Jessica Swale's semi-musical play ‘Nell Gwynn', set during the heart of the Restoration period in England in the late sixteen-hundreds. Dewi's expertise in and love of the Restoration era theatre is an absolute gift to his cast and crew, and so, of course, to his audiences too.

This month we're focussing on two great American musicals of the 20th century. We speak to actor, singer and dancer Jo Brookes about her role as Louise in the Crescent Theatre's production of Gypsy. We also go backstage with Tinker's Farm Opera and speak to director and choreographer Emma Harley  to find out more about the history of society and its forthcoming production of Guys and Dolls, which Emma is directing.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre, and features an amateur theatre-maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage. This month's episode focuses on the upcoming production of the play ‘Love From a Stranger' by Agatha Christie and Frank Vosper, a “psychological thriller”, which the Crescent Theatre Birmingham are performing in April 2024 as part of the Crescent's Centenary Season. Laura speaks to Andrew Crocker, the Production Assistant for the show, and a long-serving member of the Crescent Theatre.Luke Plimmer is this month's Backstage Pass holder and he'll be talking to set designer Poppy Chalmers, who'll explain more about creating 1930s Britain inside the black box venue that is the Ron Barber Studio space.

This episode delves into the world of Willy Russell's modern classic, Educating Rita. We talk to actress Vicky Youster about her theatrical life, theatrical loves and the times when she's 'died' on stage. Vicky is playing Rita in the Crescent Theatre Birmingham's production of Educating Rita and she also tells us all about rehearsals, the challenges of taking on such an iconic role, and how to master the Liverpool accent.Laura takes a delve into the Crescent Theatre's archives to find out more about previous productions of the show.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre, and features an amateur theatre-maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage. This episode focuses on the Crescent's upcoming pair of productions, 'House' and 'Garden', both by Alan Ayckbourn. Luke Plimmer is borrowing our backstage pass this month to learn more. He'll be talking to the Stage Manager for 'Garden', Suzie King, and to Jordan Starks-Browning, who is working on Props for both 'House' and 'Garden'. Our studio guest is Naomi Jacobs, who is the Production  Assistant on 'Garden'.  Naomi also tells us about her life and loves in amateur theatre.

This episode we're celebrating the past, exploring the present, and looking ahead to the future of amateur theatre.Chairman of the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, Kevin Middleton tells us about his theatrical life and theatrical loves, as well as  discussing the governance of an amateur theatre, and the role of the board. We also chat to one of the Crescent Theatre's longest-standing members, set-builder and former stage manager, Phil Parsons, about his memories and experiences over more than 50 years with the company.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre, and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage. This episode focuses on the Crescent's upcoming production of Othello.Our backstage pass holder, John O'Neill, will be exploring the iconic Props department with the Production Assistants for Othello, Steve Davis and Jess Shannon.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre, and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage. This episode focuses on the work of a giant of modern British theatre, Harold Pinter. We will be talking to Graeme Braidwood, who is directing the Crescent Theatre Birmingham's upcoming production of two one act Pinter plays, A Kind of Alaska and Ashes to Ashes, about his life and loves in theatre.And we'll be delving into the archives to find out a bit more about the Crescent Theatre's history of producing Pinter's work.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre, and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage.This episode focuses on the history of the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, which is celebrating a big birthday this season. We've been talking to Clare Crosland, the Crescent's Head of Archives, about the rewards and challenges of archiving a hundred years of amateur theatre history.  And we delve into the archives to find out a bit more about the history of the Crescent Theatre Company and about past productions of the two classic shows that open its centenary season this month; Blithe Spirit and Pride and Prejudice.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage. This episode focuses on Kevin Elyot's 1990s masterpiece, My Night with Reg. I'll be talking to David Baldwin about his life and loves in amateur theatre and about My Night with Reg, which David is appearing in.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've died on stage. Our Backstage Pass feature takes us behind the scenes at The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham to discover more about what goes into making a great amateur production.This episode explores Florian Zeller's modern masterpiece The Father. Our studio guest is director and actor Mark Thompson, who is directing the Crescent Theatre's forthcoming production of The Father. Mark tells us about his life and loves in amateur theatre and about how he has approached directing The Father.Our Backstage Pass Holder, John O'Neill, has been behind the scenes of the Box Office, a crucial department of any theatre, to find out more about how the box office supports and enhances the work of a busy amateur theatre venue.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've died on stage. Our Backstage Pass Feature takes us behind the scenes at The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham to discover more about what goes into making a great amateur production.This episode is all about the work of the late composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and we will be talking to Musical Director and long-standing member of the Crescent Theatre, Gary Spruce, about his life and loves in amateur theatre.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage. This episode focusses on A.R. Gurney's charming 1995 romantic comedy "Sylvia."  We'll be talking to actor, author and director Jaz Davison about her life and loves in amateur theatre.  Jaz is directing The Crescent Theatre's forthcoming production of "Sylvia," which will run in the Crescent Theatre's Ron Barber Studio from 1st - 8th April 2023."Sylvia" explores the impact of an unexpected pet on the relationship between two empty-nesters who have just moved into New York City after child rearing in the suburbs.Luke will be going backstage with two of the actors in the show to find out how you bring a dog to life on stage.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage. This episode focuses on Shelagh Delaney's ground-breaking 1950s drama A Taste of Honey. We'll be talking to designer and director Colin Judges about his life and loves in amateur theatre. Colin is directing the Crescent Theatre's forthcoming production of A Taste of Honey.And because it's February, the month of Valentines, we're doing something a little bit different this episode and celebrating stories of those who have found love, be it romantic or platonic, through amateur theatre.  We asked our listeners to send us in their amateur theatre love stories and we'll be sharing them with you, in celebration of the power that amateur theatre has to bring people together.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've died on stage. Our Backstage Pass feature will also take us behind the scenes at The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham to discover more about what goes into making a great amateur production.This episode focusses on Neil LaBute's 9/11 relationship drama "The Mercy Seat."  We'll talk to director, Robyn Dickinson about her life and loves in amateur theatre.  Robyn is directing The Crescent Theatre's upcoming production of the play.Liz has been behind the scenes of a photo shoot of a poster, for the Crescent's 2023 touring production of The Taming of the Shrew, to find out more about what goes into getting the perfect picture to sell a show.Book Tickets for The Mercy SeatBook Tickets for The Taming of the ShrewThe Crescent Theatre Website

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateurtheatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life,theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage.This episode is a celebration of Christmas at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham, andparticularly the Christmas Wassail, a Crescent tradition dating back almost 40 years.In fact, the Crescent's very beginning was a Christmas show.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage. Our Backstage Pass feature takes us behind the scenes at The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham to discover more about what goes into making a great amateur production. This episode focuses on John Webster's Jacobean tragedy The Duchess of Malfi. We'll be talking to actor, director and writer Andrew Cowie about his life and loves in amateur theatre, his approach to directing The Duchess of Malfi, and finding out about the unique and bloodthirsty genre that is Jacobean revenge tragedy.Meanwhile Liz has been behind the scenes of The Duchess of Malfi to talk to Lighting Designer Charlotte Robinson about the challenges and rewards of lighting this darkest of plays.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage. Our Backstage Pass feature takes us behind the scenes at The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham to discover more about what goes into making a great amateur production.This episode focuses on a powerful play called There Are No Beginnings by Charley Miles.  We'll be speaking to Director Alex Arksen about the play and our Backstage Pass holder, John O'Neill will be talking to Sound Designer Kevin Middleton about the important role of sound in this play.

We're delighted to be back for a second season of the podcast. Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've ‘died' on stage. Our Backstage Pass feature takes us behind the scenes at The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham to discover more about what goes into making a great amateur production. This month's episode is a little bit different as we lift the lid on some of backstage business that goes on in not one, but two, forthcoming productions at the Crescent. John O'Neill will be talking to actor and musician Hugh Blackwood about his life and loves in amateur theatre.Meanwhile Luke and Liz will be taking a look behind the scenes of the catchily titled musical ‘I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change' and the Tudor romcom ‘Shakespeare in Love', adapted for the stage by Lee Hall from the 1998 film of the same name.  

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've died on stage.  For this episode, the last in our current season, we've pulled together some clips that we didn't have time for the first time around.  We've also thrown in a few bloopers that made us laugh while we were editing.

This episode explores the witty and wonderful work of Oscar Wilde, whose satirical theatrical masterpieces continue to delight audiences more than a hundred years after his death. We'll be interviewing Alan Bull, actor, stage manager and production manager, to find out about his life and loves in amateur theatre and his experience of performing Wilde's plays. And John will be going behind the scenes to talk to the Crescent's Marketing Manager, Rob Laird, about the challenges and rewards of marketing amateur productions.

For this month's episode Liz and John have hit the road, well the M6, and taken a trip to Coventry to visit the Criterion Theatre, an amateur theatre in the Earlsdon area of the city which has a proud history of producing theatrical entertainment for over 65 years. We'll be interviewing Anne-Marie Greene, the Artistic Director of the Criterion, to find out about her life and loves in amateur theatre. We'll also be going behind the scenes at the Criterion to find out more about its unique building and its forthcoming production of Midsummer by David Greig & Gordon McIntyre.

In this episode we find out about the true story that inspired Lee Hall's play The Pitmen Painters, which tells the tale of the Ashington Group: a group of coal miners who became well-known artists. We'll be interviewing Karen Kelly, who is a voice coach, actor and production assistant, to find out about her life and loves in amateur theatre, and her experience of teaching accents and dialects. This month, John will be going behind the scenes on the Crescent Theatre's forthcoming production The Pitmen Painters and will be finding out about being an artist pretending to be a miner who becomes an artist.

This episode explores musical theatre and the story of the iconic musical Little Shop of Horrors. We'll be interviewing Karen Leadbetter, actor, singer and director, to find out about her life and loves in amateur theatre, and her experience of musicals. John will be going behind the scenes on the Crescent Theatre's forthcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors, by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken and will be finding out why you really shouldn't feed the plant…

This episode is about the comedies of William Shakespeare and we will interview the Director of The Crescent Theatre's upcoming production of Much Ado About Nothing.  Our Backstage Pass holder, John, will flip things and go Front of House with Deputy Theatre Manager, Elliot Mitchell.

This episode explores keeping it simple on stage when producing plays that are written to be performed with minimal set and costume. Plays where the words, characters and ideas create the drama and the world of the play without lavish backdrops or fancy frocks. We'll be interviewing Fi Cotton, actor and director, to find out about her life and loves in amateur theatre, and her experience of directing plays that keep the staging simple, whilst also experimenting with form. This month, John will be going behind the scenes on the Crescent Theatre's forthcoming ‘Studio Fortnight' productions of A Number by Caryl Churchill, and Swallow by Stef Smith.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've died on stage. Our Backstage Pass Holder, John O'Neill, will also take us behind the scenes at The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham to discover more about what goes into making a great amateur production.This episode explores adaptation; the art of taking a book and turning it into a play. We'll be interviewing Alan Marshall, actor, director, and adaptor of novels for the stage, to find out about his life and loves in amateur theatre. Meanwhile, John will be going behind the scenes on the Crescent Theatre's forthcoming production of The Lovely Bones, Bryony Lavery's stage adaptation of the bestselling novel by Alice Sebold.

This episode explores the challenges and rewards of creating theatre for children and families, especially at Christmas and we're delighted to be talking to David Hill of Charlemont Dramatics Society in West Bromwich about his life and loves in amateur theatre. We will also be going backstage to discover the secrets of the Crescent Theatre Birmingham's Christmas production for 2021, James and the Giant Peach.

We've given this podcast, our fourth Amateur of Life and Death episode, the title of‘Life in the Farce Lane.'We talk to Geoff Poole, one of the longest standing members of The Crescent Theatre in Birmingham about his theatrical life, loves and the times that he's died on stage.  We also catch up with some of the cast of The Crescent Theatre's upcoming production of Alan Ayckbourn's Table Manners as well as giving you some top facts about farce.Table Manners plays at The Crescent Theatre from 13th to 20th November 2021.  Tickets are available from www.crescent-theatre.co.uk

In this episode, we explore theatre that is based on real events.  We will speak to Rod Natkiel about his amazing career in television and theatre, including his experience of producing verbatim theatre - plays written using the actual words of real people.  We will also hear from Trish Henley and Alistair Hurst, who are working on The Crescent Theatre's new production of The Revlon Girl by Neil Anthony Docking, a play about the Aberfan disaster of 1966.

The Amateur of Life and Death Podcast brings together amateur theatre makers to talk about their theatrical lives, theatrical loves and the times when they've died on stage.We take you behind the scenes at The Crescent Theatre to discover more about what goes into making a production - shining a spotlight on the stars behind the scenes as well as those on stage.Theatre is our passion.  Amateur from the Latin "amare" meaning "to love."This is a podcast for anyone with an interest in watching or making amateur theatre.

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've died on stage.This episode looks the history of The Wizard of Oz.CREDITSPresenters: Laura East, Liz Plumpton, John O'NeillMusic: Brendan StanleyResearchers: John O'Neill, Laura EastEditor: Kevin Middleton

Each episode takes a look at a different aspect of the wonderful world of amateur theatre and features an amateur theatre maker talking about their theatrical life, theatrical loves, and the times when they've died on stage.This episode looks at performing outdoors and in other spaces that are not "traditional" theatres.CREDITSPresenters: Michael McLernan, Luke Plimmer, John O'NeillMusic: Brendan StanleyResearchers: Liz Plumpton, Laura EastEditor: Kevin Middleton